Trent Bridge

General News | 4th March 2009

Fitness Doubts Haunt Patel

Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel has been informed that he will not be joining the England team for the Twenty20 and One Day International section of the Caribbean tour.

The decision follows Patel’s failure to reach an acceptable standard of fitness for international cricket. He will now remain with the England Lions for the conclusion of their tour of New Zealand.

Hugh Morris, the England Cricket Managing Director, said: “Samit Patel is a talented cricketer but he, like every other player who joins the senior England team, must be aware of the strict fitness criteria that will be set.

“It is extremely frustrating that Samit has not heeded the warnings of his county, Nottinghamshire, and the England National Selector Geoff Miller as well as the England management and strength and conditioning team. In the circumstances we had no option but to de select him from the tour.”

Patel’s fitness has been monitored since he returned from India in November after touring with the England one day side. He has undertaken two fitness assessments since the start of the year and on both occasions the results were unsatisfactory.

Patel, 24, was informed of the decision yesterday by Performance director David Parsons. Geoff Miller, who also spoke to Patel, said: “The demands of international cricket are huge and Samit must recognise that fitness levels are a vital part of a successful team in international cricket.

“He really needs to understand and grasp that fact because his fitness levels have regressed between his first assessment during the build up to the England Lions tour and the second test during the first week in New Zealand.”

Notts Director of Cricket Mick Newell says that support systems are in place at Notts to give Patel everything he needs to reach acceptable fitness levels.

“We will work with Samit to help him to achieve his fitness targets but it is important that he takes responsibility for his own training to address the concerns raised by the ECB,” said Newell.

“Structures are in place at Notts to ensure that our players work on all aspects of their fitness and we have taken big strides forwards since the appointment last season of Kevin Paxton as our fitness and conditioning coach.

“Samit is a player of unquestionable talent and it is important that he applies himself to realise every ounce of his potential.”

Adil Rashid of Yorkshire, who has been a part of the England Test squad, will now remain with the England squad in Trinidad for the Twenty20 against West Indies and the subsequent five One Day Internationals.